Inmates at the Burnside jail continue to fashion sharp objects out of material they take into the facility or find there.

On Saturday, five people attacked a man in the jail, sending him to hospital with serious injuries that were initially deemed life-threatening. It was at least the third incident involving stab and slash wounds at the Dartmouth institution since March.

The victim, whom sources have identified as accused murderer Thomas Barrett of Glace Bay, was stabbed several times, police say.

Justice Minister Lena Diab said her department is looking into what’s happening.

“Violence is a concern to us in any facility, whether it’s this facility or any other facility,” Diab said.

“Correctional facilities are dangerous places to begin with, whether it’s in this province or any other province.”

She said people getting hurt is something the department takes seriously.

“We’re always looking at our policies and procedures and training to see what are things that we can do better or differently to prevent violence in any facility.

“These are dangerous places. They house some dangerous offenders.”

The department is conducting its own investigation “to see what happened prior to, what happened during the actual assault and what we can do differently,” said Diab.

She said she couldn’t talk about how a weapon could be made or used for fear of creating a security risk for the institution.

Joan Jessome, president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, said such incidents are a concern even when not directly involving a correctional officer. She said she has two staff members working on the issue “non-stop.”

“Even though our officers weren’t assaulted, they mentally get assaulted by this kind of stuff. Certainly people have been affected by it.”

Jessome said the union continues to voice concerns about staffing levels. The union’s health and safety committee has worked “quite diligently” with the province since April, she said.

“There seems to be a strong willingness even to the point that our health and safety officer is going to be able to go in and speak with their new hires before they start.”